Chapter Text
Yugi opened his eyes and immediately shut them again.
Why was it so bright?
Hell was meant to be dark according to Atem…maybe he was just getting used to being dead…
He opened his eyes again slowly.
The brightness wasn’t as blinding this time but it was still brighter than he expected Hell to be. He frowned as he looked around, taking in the unexpected surroundings.
Was he in a…waiting room?
He blinked and rubbed his eyes.
Yes. He was in a waiting room.
He was standing in the centre of a white room, light filtered in through the windows on the far wall, rows of seats lined two of the walls. It was just like the waiting room he’d have to sit in when he went to the doctor as a kid. A TV even hung on the otherwise empty wall to his left and when he turned around he was facing a large dark wood reception desk. There was no one behind it though. The chair sat empty, as did all the others in the room.
The only thing on the surface was a large golden bell.
Slowly he moved toward the desk, stopping suddenly as he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. He turned quickly toward it but there was nothing there. He frowned and continued toward the desk.
Something soft brushed the back of his arm and he turned again only to find nothing once more. His frown deepened in his confusion as he tried to work out what was happening. He looked over his shoulder slowly and gasped when he saw white feathers behind him.
He turned back to the desk and took a deep breath.
Slowly he flexed the muscles of his back. He felt a pull from something that wasn’t there before and he grinned, looking over his shoulder again to see wings moving behind him, his wings. He stretched them out and laughed happily.
It worked!
Wait…
He felt the realisation crash down on him suddenly.
Atems wings were black. Yugis were white.
White…like an Angels wings.
The smile dropped from his face and he felt panic overtake him.
“Atem!” He shouted, looking around the empty room again but seeing nothing except blank space. “Atem? Where are you?”
He got no answer and he tried to calm himself but he couldn’t help panicking. Where was Atem? What had happened? Why wasn’t he with him? Why wasn’t he in Hell?
He looked down at himself, suddenly aware that he was no longer in his clothes he had been wearing when he’d…
He was wearing a plain white t-shirt, and white pants. His feet were bare though.
There was so much white.
His mind raced, his body shook and he fell to his knees, suddenly overcome with a feeling of wrongness about the whole situation. He closed his eyes and hugged himself tight, trying to calm his shaking body.
He had to think.
“Please.”
His head snapped up when he heard Atems voice. It was only quiet but he had definitely heard it. He looked around the room quickly but there was no one else there.
“We can settle this later but please, Aim, not now.” Atems voice was louder, pleading, and Yugi pushed himself off the floor, turning in circles to try to find where the voice was coming from.
“ATEM!” He shouted as loud as he could, desperately trying to see where his lover was.
His eyes caught the TV screen which was now on. They widened as he saw himself…well his body at least… laying on his bed in his room, Atem was kneeling on the floor next to him, his wings spread wide as he tried to cover Yugi, hands held out in front of him toward the other demon.
The other demon.
Yugi would never forget that form. Three heads, a man, a snake and a cat, glowing red markings and the sight of thick black blood dripping onto his living room floor.
“You deserve some form of punishment for what you did to me.” Aim growled.
“Yes, fine, sure, but not now.” Atem said quickly, looking around him as if he’d dropped something.
Yugi could hear the panic in his voice and it made his chest ache. He had no idea what was going on, how Aim had found Atem or why he had even bothered to find him in the first place. All he knew is that Atem was now stuck with his body…and his soul was- he looked down at himself.
Well…He was the soul he guessed, and he was no longer with Atem. He should have been with Atem.
“No.” He whispered, moving closer to the screen. “No. Please.”
Was there still time? Was Atem still able to return to Hell and do what needed to be done or was it too late? Were they separated for good?
Had everything been for nothing?
Atem said timing was important, that he couldn’t be distracted because he didn’t have time. Aim was going to ruin everything and there was nothing Yugi could do.
…Or was there.
He looked away from the screen, around the rest of the room. There was no one here, surely he hadn’t been sent anywhere yet. What if this waiting room was exactly that? A room for souls to wait in until the moment of death had come.
Maybe he still had time.
Atems scream of pain dragged his attention back to the screen. Aim had attacked him. Yugi felt sick as he watched Atem try desperately to pry the snake's head off his arm where it had bitten him, his wings beating the air as he shoved Aim away from Yugi’s body.
It was clear that no matter how much stronger than Yugi Atem was, he was no match for the bigger demon.
He tore his eyes away from the screen and ran to the desk, a new sense of urgency overtaking him. He slammed his hand down on the bell repeatedly, the chime echoing through the empty room.
“Hello?” He shouted. “Is anyone there?! There’s been a…a mistake.”
He slammed his hand on the bell again and again.
“I need to go back!” He shouted.
No one answered his desperate calls and he let out a frustrated growl, sweeping the bell clean off the desk with his hand and launching it at the nearest wall. It’s chime turning to a dull ‘thunk’ when it hit the ground.
“Listen to me!” He shouted, looking at the white ceiling. “I know there’s someone there! I know you can hear me!”
No response again.
He was panicking, but there wasn’t time to panic. He had to pull himself together.
He hurried around the room, searching for any exit, any sign that would take him back to his body and back to Atem.
Atem screamed again and Yugi felt sick, he couldn’t look though, he had to find a way out. An equally pained sound from Aim made him feel a little better.
Hold on Atem. He urged his partner to stay strong until he could find some way out, there had to be a way out. If he was between life and death, then there should be a way to either side…he just had to hope he found the right one.
He ran his hands over the walls, the floors, he picked up chairs and threw them aside hoping to find some hidden exit behind them. He let out another frustrated sound when he couldn’t find a door.
He paused… There were windows.
He hurried over to one of them, jumping awkwardly over fallen chairs, searching for a handle or any way to open it, but he found nothing. Was this a waiting room or a cage? He stepped back, his eyes caught an upturned chair in front of him and he smiled.
Yugi picked it up and aimed it at the window in front of him. He swung the chair hard, pleased when the glass cracked. He repeated the action a few more times until the window shattered and he had a space he could climb out of without ripping himself to shreds.
He grinned triumphantly and dropped the chair, climbing up on another to push himself through the window.
Just as he was trying to navigate his newly acquired wings around the broken glass the window suddenly disappeared. Then, the whole wall was suddenly gone and he hit the floor hard, yelping in surprise as he tried to catch himself on his hands.
He pushed himself up quickly, shaking himself off. Now he was free he just needed to find a way back to Atem.
Yugi looked around, trying to get his bearings but all that he saw was white, just…endless white space. He sighed.
Why was everything so dramatically staged?
“You dared to banish me!” Aims voice suddenly cut through the silence and Yugi turned around, the TV screen was still there, hanging in the air where a wall once was and playing out a horrible scene.
Aim had Atem by the throat, pinned against the wall of Yugi's bedroom as he repeatedly landed punches to Atems stomach and chest.
Atem let out sharp pained sounds with every blow and Yugi wondered how he could kill Aim. He would have no issues tearing the other demon apart after seeing him so ruthlessly attack his mate.
His mate.
Atem had told him that he was able to travel to Yugi from Hell by picturing him, then he focused on the connection between them and…followed the path.
He walked back toward the screen, still intent on finding some way back…perhaps if he just concentrated hard enough then-
“What are you doing?” A panicked voice came from behind him.
Yugi turned toward the voice, searching the open space until he saw a young man flying toward him. He was the typical representation of an angel, large white wings, wearing a clean white toga and gold laurel leaves arranged in a crown in his blonde hair. He held a clipboard in one hand, a pen in the other and he looked…angry.
“Oh good.” Yugi said conversationally as the Angel got closer. “I need to go back.”
“Go back?” He asked incredulously. “Why in Heaven would you want to do that?”
“I need to get back to him.” Yugi said pointing at the screen as if it were obvious. “To Atem, my mate. I need to help him.”
“Oh.” The Angel sighed, looking past Yugi to the screen. “The demon?”
“Yes.” Yugi said, ignoring the way the word was said with such disgust. He couldn’t punch an Angel…surely.
“It really is a wonder you made it up here after copulating with that honestly, but I don’t make the rules. Anyway, I’m afraid that’s not possible...” The Angel said, pulling up his clipboard and looking down at it. “Yugi Mutou, age: 38, sex: male.” He shook his head and sighed. “Had a little run in with an Incubus did we?” The tone of the voice was mocking.
Yugi really had to remind himself that murder was wrong. Even if the person in front of you was so obviously asking for it.
“I need to go back.” He repeated calmly.
“Um. No.” the Angel said. “You’re here now. You can’t just take it all back you know. You’re dead.”
Yugi looked back to the screen, Atem was trying his hardest to break free of Aim's hold, he was fighting back so fiercely, he had no idea what was happening with Yugi right now but he was still fighting.
He was still there.
“No, I’m not.” He said. “Not just yet.”
“What do you mean?” The Angel in front of him scoffed. “I have everything right here.” He tapped his clipboard with his pen. “You’re dead. Deceased. Gone. Expired. However you put it, all roads lead to here.”
Yugi clenched his jaw against that falsely cheerful voice and walked away. He returned to the screen still in the air. He watched Atem struggle and he could feel the desperation in him growing.
He had to protect him.
“Send me back.” Yugi said, his voice a little firmer.
“Are you incapable of listening?” The Angel asked. “I told you, no can do. It’s impossible. What you bought yourself when you chose that Incubus was a one-way ticket to the Necropolis.”
“Are you sure you’re an Angel?” Yugi asked sharply. “Because you’re really fucking annoying.” The Angel shrunk back when Yugi turned on him.
“With language like that I doubt you’ll last too long up here.” The Angel said.
“Good.” Yugi spat. “There has to be a way back.” He said, stepping forward. “Demons can travel between Earth and Hell, so you must have a similar skill. Am I right?”
The Angel looked away. “You seem to know an awful lot about demons.”
“I’m not really in the mood for this.” Yugi continued. “The person I love more than anything is out there right now, fighting for his life. I have to help him. I can’t- I won’t let him die, and if you think you’re going to keep me here you’re about to be very surprised. Now. Help me, or I’ll shove that pen down your throat.”
The Angel looked back at him and smiled.
Yugi was about to follow up on his threat but he stepped back as the Angels body changed. The items in its hand fell to the ground and disappeared in a wisp of grey smoke. The Angel grew taller, a little wider and a long grey cloak replaced the toga, billowing out and obscuring the true shape of the body beneath.
A grey hood hung low over the head too and Yugi couldn’t see the face of the being in front of him, he could only see a mouth which pulled into a smile that made Yugi feel very uncomfortable but also seemed…familiar in a way.
“You are interesting. I’m glad I came to see you.” The being said, its voice was flat and cold. “All this fuss for an Incubus?”
“Atem is not just an Incubus.” Yugi said, anger still burning inside him, the desire to protect Atem was only growing the longer he had to stay in this place and talk to unhelpful idiots. “He’s my mate, I love him.”
“But he cannot possibly love you.” Yugi almost missed the falsely cheerful voice the Angel before had. “He is a demon.”
“He loves me,” Yugi said, making an effort to make his voice sound less harsh, less snappy. “I know it. Demons aren’t as heartless as everyone makes them out to be. Please. Send me back.”
The figure moved, walking away from Yugi to look at the screen.
Atem had freed himself of Aim's grasp but he was struggling. He was bleeding from his mouth, bruises covered the skin of his arms and chest. He looked so tired as he dodged another one of Aim's punches, darting forward to land one of his own.
Still there.
“You think he deserves to be saved?” The figure asked curiously.
“Everyone deserves to be saved.” Yugi said. All of this felt like another stupid test to him and his patience was wearing thin. “People are always more than they seem to be.”
The being nodded and turned to him.
“I have made many mistakes in my time.” It said, “I judged too quickly. I cast so many of my best Angels out of Heaven for things which seem trivial to me now. But I cannot reverse what I have done.”
Yugi stayed silent...was he speaking to God? The one who created the universe? The one responsible for so much pain and suffering… His bit back his anger.
“Everything that has happened so far has been part of the plan. I see all. I know all.” A pause, the figure turned its head toward him slightly. “But this… this is not how I envisaged your meeting with this Incubus to end.”
“Love isn’t always a choice.” Yugi said quietly. “It doesn’t care about circumstance, it just happens.”
“Wise words for a human.”
He stayed silent for a moment. Maybe this was the best chance he had to get to Atem. if he pissed God off enough surely he’d be sent straight to Hell and then he could find Mahad…tell him to get to Atem and help-
Yugi gasped and dropped to his knees, a pain in his chest suddenly left him breathless and he knew that his time was ending.
He looked quickly back to Atem who was also on his knees. Aim stood over him, a blade in his hand and Yugi shook his head.
“No.” He said. He tried to get up, failed, tried again but fell back to the ground harder, the pain in his chest was spreading and he felt the tears in his eyes. He crawled toward the figure which was still standing in front of the screen.
“Please.” He said. “You have to let me help him.”
“He is a demon.”
“He has a good heart.” Yugi argued.
“Demons do not have hearts.”
“Not in the physical sense, no.” Yugi groaned and clutched at his chest. “But Atem is capable of feeling things demons shouldn’t be able to feel. Even you have to admit that.”
“He was created to be an Incubus…” The being paused. “Although chaos is what he was born out of, he was able to learn how to love, he made choices that other demons wouldn’t…choices.”
The last word was whispered and Yugi felt a pain in his side.
“You made mistakes.” Yugi breathed out. “Learn from them. No one is perfect, but that's the beauty of humans…of Angels and Demons…they can all make choices. They all have the potential to be so much more than they are meant to be.”
Yugi fell to his side, gasping as the pain spread through his body.
“Please.” He said. “Save him.”
Yugi looked back at the screen. He saw Aim lift Atems head, a hand forcefully tugging at his hair to expose his throat.
“Atem.” He said weakly.
He couldn’t breathe.
The blade moved quickly, sharp metal dragging over the soft skin of Atems throat and Yugi screamed with his last breath.
………………………
His body was so heavy.
His mind was foggy.
His mouth was dry.
He took a deep breath and felt it burn his lungs.
Slowly, he began to open his eyes, they fell closed a few times but he succeeded eventually. It was dark but he could see.
He looked down at his body…bloody and aching.
Surely that large wound on his side should be hurting…but he felt nothing.
“Stay still.”
He heard a familiar voice speak to him and he obeyed.
Heavy eyes fell closed and he drifted back into nothingness.
………………………
The first thing he became aware of was the weightlessness of his body. Yugi felt like he was floating and he opened his eyes quickly, startling at the sudden change from what he felt previously.
His mouth fell open when he looked around him.
Stars, as far as he could see burned bright in the darkness, there were so many of them. Their colours were so vibrant, a stark contrast to the blackness of the space around them.
He would have admired it more, had he not been distracted by the tall hooded figure in front of him.
"Since you seem so certain that anyone can make a choice and change their fate…" A cloaked hand extended toward Yugis left. "It is time for you to make a choice."
Yugi watched in silence as the being gestured to the left.
"Over there, your family waits for you." The cold voice gave him chills and he tried to remain calm as he looked where the being was pointing.
A beautiful nebula of vivid purple sat innocently among the stars. Swirls of cosmic dust spiralled outward from the centre, frozen in time but still appearing to move like a tree swaying gently in the breeze.
"Over there." The harsh voice drew his attention back to the other being with him. This time the figure gestured to the right. "Is your demon."
A second nebula was what he found when he looked to the right. This one was just as beautiful as the first, but it seemed much more unstable. The dark crimson edges were frayed, small wisps of dust extended outward as if they were seeking something to hold on to.
"Make your choice." The being said.
Yugi swallowed hard, he looked toward the nebula on the left where the being had pointed first. His family were there.
He thought he would feel drawn to that choice, but…he didn't.
Maybe that came from the fact that he didn't feel like he was ever truly without his family. He carried them with him in his heart, his thoughts. They were a part of him and he was sure they knew it.
He looked back to the crimson coloured nebula and smiled.
He already knew what his choice was.
"I choose him." He said strongly.
"Yugi Mutou." He looked back to the being in front of him. "I cast you out."
"Thank you." He breathed out as he was suddenly drawn forcefully to the right.
He squeezed his eyes closed as he felt the wings on his back burn. He let out a pained sound as he felt a sharp pain in his head.
He was sure his skull was breaking apart.
His hands flew to his head, clutching at it in an attempt to stop the pain. Fingers hit something hard protruding from his skin and he pulled his hand back away.
He screamed as he fell faster, but he didn't open his eyes.
Suddenly the ground met him.
His back struck something solid and he stopped falling.
…………………
The moment he opened his eyes he knew where he was.
It was dark, but he could still see around him. He recognised the scene Atem had once described to him and he felt a small smile come to his face. It really had worked this time.
He wasn’t sure what he expected to see when he turned his head to either side, but a group of demons looking down at him wasn’t it.
Fear gripped him and he panicked for a moment, stories of Atems run-ins with other demons came to mind and he worried that he was about to meet the same fate. He felt a growl rumble in his throat before he made the conscious decision to make the sound.
The demons around him stepped back.
A younger looking one stepped forward though, holding out her hand to Yugi. He looked up at her in silence but she only smiled at him and extended her hand further.
Slowly he reached out and accepted the hand, letting the demon help him to his feet. Small rocks and dust fell off of him as he stood up and he felt the wings on his back move on their own, shaking a little.
He wobbled uneasily for a moment, not used to the wings on his back just yet but once he was steady the demon released his hand and he thanked her.
Now…what next.
“Um…” He looked around. “Does anyone know where I can find someone called Atem?” He asked.
The demons around him all looked away, some of them shrugging and he felt worry grip him again…maybe he’d been too late.
Maybe God hadn’t done what he asked.
He refused to entertain those thoughts though and pushed his way through the group around him. Brushing more dust off his arms and looking around him again.
He was in some sort of town square it seemed. Buildings stood in odd rows on all four sides, a crooked fountain was at the centre of the space, cracked and decrepit but still standing.
It was busy.
How the Hell was he going to find Atem among the rest of these demons?
He took a step, tripping over himself and groaning in irritation. He wasn’t this uncoordinated when he was in the waiting room. Actually…his wings felt a little bigger now, they almost touched the back of his ankles as he walked.
He was still bare foot which was irritating too, but at least his clothes were black now.
Demons kept getting in his damned way though.
They kept staring at him, some of them backed away from him and he frowned, wondering what the reason was.
Where did he even start?
This place was huge. He’d never find Atem.
His heart sunk and he wanted to cry, but desperation spurred him on and he kept walking.
“Atem!” He shouted, ignoring the looks from the other demons around him. Someone had to know who Atem was, surely. He continued down a narrow street leading away from the square.
Well…he could always try Mahads name too-
“Yugi!” He heard his name in that deep voice and he almost screamed with relief. He turned around, forcing his way through the other demons around him.
“Atem!” He shouted. He wished he could fly, it would be so much easier to find his lover, but he wasn’t sure how yet.
He didn’t care who was in the way, he shoved them to the side as if they were nothing. His wings kept catching on the other demons and it was annoying him, it was slowing him down and making him uncoordinated when all he wanted to do was get to Atem.
Finally, he reached the end of the narrow street and it opened up more into another square. He looked around, not seeing who he was looking for…
“At-” Something hit him in the chest, knocking him backwards but he didn’t hit the floor.
It took him a moment to realise that Atem had just tackled him into a crushing hug. His arms were around him, holding him up as the other demon laughed against his shoulder.
Yugi wrapped his arms around Atem, pulling him closer and smiling so much it hurt. He was reluctant to let Atem take a step back, but he let him, keeping his arms around his neck though to keep him close.
“I am so sorry. I don’t believe you’re here.” Atem said quickly. “I’m sorry, Yugi I tried-”
He didn’t let Atem finish, he pulled him into a kiss, holding him close and moving his hands to hold Atems face.
“Don’t” Yugi said as they parted. “I’m here now aren’t I.”
Atem smiled and nodded, leaning in slowly and nudging his horns under Yugi's jaw. It was the same gesture Yugi was used to, but it made him feel so much different now. It was like it… made more sense to him now. It made him feel so happy and safe.
He laughed and returned the gesture, nudging his own horns under Atems jaw. Atem sighed happily and then pushed him away, moving a hand to his face.
“How did you manage it?” Atem asked, cupping his cheek. “I thought I was dead, that I’d lost you forever.”
“I…think I met God.” Yugi told him. “After I smashed the window on the waiting room I-“
“A window?” Atem asked. “No, you’re gonna have to tell me the whole story now. You can’t tell me you went rogue in purgatory and not explain every detail to me.”
“Purgatory? Okay.” Yugi laughed. “Anyway, I was given a choice…and I chose you.”
“Yugi.” Atem breathed out. “I ended up back here after everything went wrong, it took Mahad a while to heal me but then you weren’t here. I panicked, I couldn’t sense you.” He ran a hand down Yugis cheek. “I heard the whispers that an Angel had fallen and then I felt you.”
“Oh…yeah.” Yugi smiled shyly.
“I can’t believe you’re a Fallen Angel now.” Atem laughed, “You’re a much higher rank than me…an Incubus.”
“I don’t care.” Yugi stepped forward and pulled him into another soft kiss. “I’m just glad to be with you.”
“Let me look at you.” Atem said softly as they parted.
Yugi smiled and spread his wings out wide, turning- carefully so he didn’t fall over- so Atem could get a better look at them then facing him again. The soft smile on Atems face told him everything he needed to know.
“I don’t believe you Fell…and for me?” Atem said, shaking his head and looking Yugi up and down.
“Oh, I fell for you a long time ago.” Yugi told him. Atem laughed.
“You look great.” Atem said.
“Just great?” Yugi pouted then laughed when Atem pulled him closer again.
Atem ran a hand through his hair, brushing his fingers slowly over one of his horns, then he slid his hand down to Yugi's wings.
“I have other words, but I was trying to be chaste.” Atem told him.
Yugi grinned at him and leaned in closer, catching Atems bottom lip between his sharp teeth.
“I guess you could just show me instead.” He said quietly.
“I’ll show you how much I love you forever.” Atem breathed out.
“I love you too.” Yugi said softly, kissing him once more.